Mutations in C5ORF42 cause Joubert syndrome in the French Canadian population

Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Apr 6;90(4):693-700. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.02.011. Epub 2012 Mar 15.

Abstract

Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by a distinctive mid-hindbrain malformation, developmental delay with hypotonia, ocular-motor apraxia, and breathing abnormalities. Although JBTS was first described more than 40 years ago in French Canadian siblings, the causal mutations have not yet been identified in this family nor in most French Canadian individuals subsequently described. We ascertained a cluster of 16 JBTS-affected individuals from 11 families living in the Lower St. Lawrence region. SNP genotyping excluded the presence of a common homozygous mutation that would explain the clustering of these individuals. Exome sequencing performed on 15 subjects showed that nine affected individuals from seven families (including the original JBTS family) carried rare compound-heterozygous mutations in C5ORF42. Two missense variants (c.4006C>T [p.Arg1336Trp] and c.4690G>A [p.Ala1564Thr]) and a splicing mutation (c.7400+1G>A), which causes exon skipping, were found in multiple subjects that were not known to be related, whereas three other truncating mutations (c.6407del [p.Pro2136Hisfs*31], c.4804C>T [p.Arg1602*], and c.7477C>T [p.Arg2493*]) were identified in single individuals. None of the unaffected first-degree relatives were compound heterozygous for these mutations. Moreover, none of the six putative mutations were detected among 477 French Canadian controls. Our data suggest that mutations in C5ORF42 explain a large portion of French Canadian individuals with JBTS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple
  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Canada
  • Cerebellar Diseases / genetics*
  • Cerebellum / abnormalities
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Exome
  • Eye Abnormalities / genetics*
  • Female
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases, Cystic / genetics*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Retina / abnormalities

Substances

  • CPLANE1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Agenesis of Cerebellar Vermis